Self-cleaning knockdown poultry and merchandise shipping crate.



No. 889,191. PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908. S. W. BELL.

SELF CLEANING KNOGKDOWN POULTRY AN'D MERCHANDISE SHIPPING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.12, 1906.

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No. 889,191. PATENTED JUNE 2. 1908. S. W. BELL.

SELF CLEANING KNCCKDOWN POULTRY AND MERCHANDISE SHIPPING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12, 1906.

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. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL W. BELL, OF MARIETTA, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM J.WARK, OF 'MARIETTA, OHIO.

SELF-CLEANING- KNOCKDOWN POULTRY AND MERCHANDISE SHIPPING CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2, 1908.

Application filed November 12, 1906. Serial No. 343,089.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL W. BELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Marietta, in the county of Washington and State of Ohio,have invented a new and useful Self-Cleaning Knockdown Poultry andMerchandise Shipping Crate, of which the following is a specification.

.This invention relates to knock-down shipping crates and moreparticularly to that class of crates especially designed for shippingand transporting poultry and other live stock.

The object of the invention is to provide a compbaratively simple andinexpensive crate capa le of being readily set u for use and which maybe quickly knoc red down or folded for transportation or shipment.

A further object is to provide a crate the end walls of which arepivotally connected with the top and bottom sections, respectively, andmovable inwardly over the upper surface of the bottom section to foldedposition thus scraping the floor of the crate and efiectually removingany particles of dirt or other foreign matter adhering to the floor.

A further object of the invention is to generally improve this class ofdevices so as to increase their utility, durability and efficiency aswell as to reduce the cost of manufacture.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafterfully described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it beingunderstood that various changes in form, proportions and minor detailsof construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification:Figure 1 is a perspective view of a knock-down crate constructed inaccordance with my invention, showing the same set up for use. Fig. 2 isa similar view showing the crate knockeddown or folded. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal sectional view showing the crate in partially foldedposition. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview illustrating asolid or closed crate for ship ing merchandise. Fig.6 is a similar view 0 the crate shown in Fig. 5 in folded position.

Fig. 7 is a detail longitudinal sectional view showing the constructionof the spring catch.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of thefigures of the drawings.

. The improved device which may be formed of wood or other suitablematerial is prefersists of a top or upper section 5 and a bottom orlower section 6, the latter being provided with a marginal rib or flange7 having a longitudinal groove or channel 8 formed therein andpreferably extending the entire length of the bottom section, as shown.

Pivotally connected with the upper section 5, as indicated at 9, are theend walls or sections 10 the lower edges of which are provided withtransverse rods or pins 11 secured to the bottom of the sections in anysuitable manner as by straps or clips 12. The opposite ends of the rods11 project laterally beyond the adjacent vertical edges of the end wallsand are seated in the grooves or channels 8 thus forming a sliding andpivotal connection between the walls and bottom section 6. The sidewalls or sections 13 are pivoted to the topsof the crate, as indicatedat 14 and are adapted to be folded downwardly in engagement with theadjacent vertical edges of the end walls of the sections 10, there beingstop-lugs or blocks 15 secured to the free edges of the side sectionsand spaced inwardly from the opposite ends thereof for en gagement withthe adjacent edges of the end walls 10 thus locking the end wallsagainst accidental displacement.

The side and end sections or walls are preferably provided with aplurality of spaced bars 16 and 17, some of the bars 16 of one of theside sections being mounted for vertical movement therein and connectedby cross bars 16 to form a gate 17 whereby access may be readilyobtained to the interior of the crate.

Extending through the bottom section 6 at the opposite ends of the crateare threaded pins or bolts 18 which engage suitable nuts 19 seated inthe end'bars of the side sections 13 thereby to securely lock said sidesections in engagement with the bottom section 6 and prevent accidentalcollapsing of the crate during transportation or shipment.

In folding the crate the side sections are ably rectangular in shape, asshown, and conreleased by removing the bolts 18, after which the sidesections are folded upwardly and laterally on the top section 5. The endsections 10 are then folded inwardly and downwardly on the bottomsection, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings so that thecrate will occupy a comparatively small space when not in use. The boltsor pins 18 after being removed from the bottom section may be threadedin the nuts 19 of the side walls so as to be out of the way and inconvenient position to be again used in setting up the crate. Attentionis here called to the fact that when the end sections or walls 10 aremoved inwardly to folded position the lower edges of said sections willbear against and scrape the upper surface of the bottom section 6 thuseffectually removing any particles or deposits of dirt and other foreignmaterial on said bottom section. It may of course be understood that thecrate will be tilted on one side to permit the discharge of of the dirtafter the floor has been scraped.

When it is desired to set the crate up for use the top section iselevated after which the end sections 10 are adjusted longitudinally ofthe bottom section and forced into engagement with the adjacent surfaceof the stopflange or rib 7, after which the side sections 13 are swungdownwardly and the bolts 18 threaded through the bottom section intoengagement with the nuts 19. It will thus be seen that the stop-lugs orblocks 15 by engagement with the adjacent faces of the end walls willeffectually lock the end walls in vertical position while the movablebars 16 by engagement with the bottom section will prevent spreadingmovement of the side sections.

In Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings there is illustrated a solid or closedform of crate especially adapted for shipping merchandise. In this formof the device the side walls 13 are provided with looking bolts 20 thereduced ends of which are inclined or beveled, as indicated at 21, forengagement with an opening in a spring plate or keeper 22. The plate orkeeper 22 is countersunk in the marginal rib or flange 7 and is providedwith a terminal finger piece 23 the free end of which is bent or curveddownwardly so that when the side walls of the crate are moved to closedposition the inclined end 21 of the bolt will ride over the curvedsurface of the plate and thus be guided to the locking recess.

In order to knock down the crate shown in Fig. 5 it is merely necessaryto remove the bolts 18 and depress the finger-piece 23 when the sidewalls or sections may be swung upwardly and the crate folded in themanner before stated.

It will of course be understood that the crates may be made in differentsizes and shapes and constructed with either open or closed wallsaccording to the nature of the commodities to be transported or shipped.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that there is provided anextremely simple, inexpensive and efficient device admirably adapted forthe attainment of the ends in view.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed is:

A knock-clown crate including a top section, a bottom section providedwith a vertically disposed marginal flange having its exterior wallsimperforate and its interior walls provided with spaced groovesextending the entire length of the bottom section, end sectionspivotally connected with the top section, straps secured to the freeends of said end sections and having their intermediate portions spacedfrom the bottom of the end sections to form loops, rods seated in saidloops and projecting beyond the vertical edges of the end walls forengagement with the adjacent grooves, blocks spaced inwardly from theadjacent ends of said side sections for engagement with the end sectionswhen the side sections are folded downwardly to operative position, nutsseated in openings in the side sections, and bolts carried by the bottomsection and engaging the nuts for locking the bottom and side sectionsin engagement with each other, said side sections being foldabledownwardly on the top section when the crate is knocked down.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL W. BELL.

WVitnesses C. O. MIDDLESWARTE WV. M. HART.

